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Biomedical subjects

J B Hendricks

Publications and source records attributed to J B Hendricks.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Alterations in circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and L-selectin: further evidence for chronic inflammation in ischemic heart disease.

Atherosclerosis is increasingly thought to be a chronic inflammatory disease. Inflammation requires transmigration of leukocytes from the circulation to the tissues. Adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial calls is the initial event in an inflammatory response and is mediated by expression of several adhesion molecules. In this study we characterize the contribution of intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1) and L-selectin in patients with different coronary artery disease syndromes. Serum concentrations of cICAM-1 and sL-selectin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 31 patients with stable angina, 30 patients with unstable angina, 18 patients with acute myocardial infarction and 20 healthy subjects in a control group. All patients underwent coronary angiography. Mean (+/-SE) cICAM-1 levels were higher (p < 0.05) in patients with stable angina (249 +/- 6 ng/ml), unstable angina (260 +/- 16 ng/ml), or acute myocardial infarction (261 +/- 24 ng/ml) compared with those in subjects in the control group (171 +/- 11 ng/ml). In contrast, levels of sL-selectin were lower (p < 0.01) in patients with stable angina (1.2 +/- 0.1 microg/ml), unstable angina (1.1 +/- 0.6 microg/ml), or acute myocardial infarction (1.1 +/- 0.1 microg/ml) compared with those in subjects in the control group (1.8 +/- 0.1 microg/ml). No difference was found in cICAM-1 or sL-selectin levels among patients with stable angina, unstable angina, or acute myocardial infarction. No correlation was seen between cICAM-1 or sL-selectin levels and extent (or severity) of coronary artery disease or leukocyte count. L-selectin expression was observed to be depressed in patients with severe angina compared with that in members of the control group. To examine the mechanism of reduction in sL-selectin levels and L-selectin expression on leukocytes, leukocytes from the control group were stimulated in vitro. Stimulation of leukocytes resulted in a rapid downregulation of surface L-selectin expression, measured by flowcytometry, similar to the suppressed expression of L-selectin found on leukocytes from patients with coronary artery disease. In conclusion, altered cICAM-1 and sL-selectin levels in patients with coronary artery disease reflect the presence of a chronic inflammatory process. This inflammatory process results in downregulation of leukocyte expression of L-selectin and thus lower circulating sL-selectin levels.

Angina Pectoris

Prognostic factors in carcinoma of the vulva: a clinicopathologic and DNA flow cytometric study.

The clinical staging of carcinoma of the vulva is a predictor of patient survival; however, the significance of other prognostic factors remains somewhat controversial. Length of survival after diagnosis of invasive squamous cell carcinoma was determined for 39 clinically staged and surgically treated patients who were followed at our institution. Clinical stage, tumor type, use of radiotherapy (RT), histopathologic features (invasive pattern, depth of invasion, lymph node status, nuclear grade, adjacent dysplasia, desmoplasia, inflammation) and DNA ploidy (determined by flow cytometry from paraffin-embedded tissue) were evaluated as predictors of survival. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated for strata defined by each of the various predictors and compared using the log-rank test. Advanced stage (p = 0.0002), RT use (p = 0.0004), "spray" invasive pattern (p = 0.005), positive lymph node status (p = 0.001), increased positive lymph node number (p = 0.016), and greater depth of invasion (p = 0.039) were associated univariantly with decreased survival time. Spray invasive pattern (p = 0.018), positive lymph node status (p = 0.030), positive lymph node number (p = 0.040), and RT use (p = 0.045) continued to be associated with decreased survival time after controlling for stage. Of the significant factors, invasive pattern stands out as a qualitative feature that may have potential benefit in predicting survival independent of clinical stage in patients with vulvar carcinoma.

Adult

Role of the pathologist in biomarker studies.

Cancer chemoprevention is defined as intervention by chemical agents prior to invasion to inhibit or slow the carcinogenic process. Using surrogate endpoint biomarkers in chemoprevention studies may reduce the size, length and cost of clinical prospective randomized trials in high-risk populations. Intermediate biomarkers are measurable alterations in the tissues at risk and include differentiation, genetic composition, biochemical expression, and proliferation. Assessment is possible because invasive epithelial neoplasms are known to begin as intraepithelial proliferations with a spectrum of cellular abnormalities extending to carcinoma in situ. Genetic heterogeneity begins in the intraepithelial phase; a stochastic accumulation of genetic errors characterizes the progression of clonal evolution within the tumor through the process of invasion and metastasis. Pathologic features associated with this process include tumor classification as well as whether it is intraepithelial or invasive. If the process is intraepithelial, the grade and extent of the intraepithelial lesion are reported. If the neoplasm is invasive, tumor size, extent, degree of differentiation (histologic and nuclear grade), mitotic rate, vascular invasion, and lymph node involvement are evaluated. In assessing biomarkers relevant chemoprevention, and without complete regression of the neoplasm with the chemopreventive agent or agents, measurable parameters along with histopathologic features are applicable. Three methods readily applicable for this purpose that can be applied to paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed tissue include quantitative pathology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular biologic applications. These methods require some consistency in handling and processing the tissues under study; results may deteriorate due to a number of processing variables, including time to fixation, time in fixative, and fixative type. Quantitative pathology, including static image analysis and flow cytometry, can determine total DNA content. Using static image analysis, very small tumors can be studied. In addition, adjacent intraepithelial and invasive components of a tumor may be studied from a single slide. Steroid receptors, oncogenes, and other proteins detectable through immunohistochemical or molecular biologic methods can be quantitated by this technique as well. Cell cycle synthetic function is assayable by both methods. Flow cytometry can calculate the total percentage of cells in S-phase, or the tumor cell S-phase fraction based on the percentage of cells detected between the G0, G1 peak and the G2 + M peak. A similar approach is generally not applicable with current image analysis equipment; however, cell cycle related proteins such as MIB-1 (Ki-67 associated) can be quantified. Immunohistochemical methods can employ a wide variety of monoclonal antibodies to detect oncogene related proteins, including HER-2/neu (c-erbB-2) and p53. Molecular biologic methods, including in situ hybridization, polymerase chain reaction, and in situ PCR, can have many applications when applied to paraffin-embedded tissues, including detection of viral DNA, identification and measurement of apoptosis, and defining gene deletions.

Biomarkers, Tumor

Oxidized low-density lipoproteins facilitate leukocyte adhesion to aortic intima without affecting endothelium-dependent relaxation. Role of P-selectin.

Inflammatory cell deposition in atherosclerotic blood vessels has been thought to relate to loss of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO). To examine whether cell deposition correlates temporally with the loss of NO activity, rat aortic rings were incubated with buffer, native LDL (n-LDL), oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), or the endothelium-derived relaxing factor synthase inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) for 2 hours, and vascular contractile response to norepinephrine and relaxant response to acetylcholine, thrombin, and calcium ionophore A23,187 were examined. Thereafter, the rings were exposed to biotin-fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled fluorescent or unlabeled leukocytes for 30 minutes. Cell adhesion was quantitated by fluorescent microscopy as well as by scanning electron microscopy. Incubation with n-LDL or ox-LDL did not affect either the contractile or the relaxant response of rings. However, leukocyte adhesion increased markedly in all ox-LDL-treated rings but not in those treated with n-LDL. Thus, leukocyte adhesion occurred independent of NO activity. In keeping with this concept, pretreatment of rings with the NO precursor L-arginine failed to influence leukocyte adhesion to rings incubated with ox-LDL. Treatment of rings with L-NAME also resulted in adhesion of a large number of leukocytes. Furthermore, all rings treated with ox-LDL or L-NAME demonstrated marked expression of P-selectin leukocyte adhesion molecules, determined by immunohistochemistry. Pretreatment of rings with the P-selectin blocking antibody PB1.3 markedly decreased deposition of leukocytes in rings exposed to ox-LDL.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

DNA tetraploidy in Feulgen-stained bladder washings assessed by image cytometry.

The prognostic utility of DNA cytometry has been demonstrated for irrigation specimens from bladder neoplasms. While the traditional method of measuring the DNA content of cells recovered by bladder irrigation is flow cytometry, image analysis has been applied increasingly, with successful results. In some cases, image analysis has been shown to detect DNA aneuploid populations missed by flow cytometry. The DNA aneuploid population most frequently missed by flow cytometry is in the DNA tetraploid range. The purpose of the present study was to review image cytometry data on bladder washings analyzed at the University of Florida Diagnostic Referral Laboratories during a one-year period, with special emphasis on the subset with DNA tetraploid histograms. Of the 205 cases reviewed, 127 (62%) were DNA diploid, 36 (18%) DNA aneuploid and 42 (20%) DNA tetraploid. Corresponding cytology was negative in 113/127 (89%) of DNA diploid, 3/36 (8%) of DNA aneuploid and 29/42 (69%) of DNA tetraploid cases. Within the DNA tetraploid group, 45% of cases had no clinical (cystoscopic) or pathologic (cytologic and histologic) evidence of neoplasia. None of these patients developed tumors during follow-up. The presence of DNA tetraploidy in cytologically negative cases should be interpreted cautiously.

Aneuploidy

Computer-assisted and visual methods of assessing cellular proliferation in tissue sections from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma a comparison.

OBJECTIVE: To compare computer-assisted and visual methods of assessing cellular proliferation using tissue sections from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). STUDY DESIGN: The study group consisted of 20 specimens of NHL (10 indolent and 10 aggressive). Three-micrometer serial sections were prepared and labeled for Ki-67 (MIB1) and argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs). Labeling was assessed by classic visual inspection and quantitative image analysis. RESULTS: Computer-assisted and visual Ki-67 labeling indices were significantly higher in aggressive than indolent NHL and were linearly related (r = .850, P < .0001). Although the visual and computer-assisted AgNOR counts were significantly higher in aggressive than indolent NHL, the correlation between these two counting methods was not significant (r = .407, P < .075). Linear regression analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between the Ki-67 visual labeling index and visual AgNOR count (r = .630, P < .003); however, no such relationship could be demonstrated between the remaining methods. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that visual and computer-assisted methods of immunohistochemical and AgNOR analysis may not yield comparable results. This fact may be related to the method of analysis and the computer-assisted technique.

Cell Division

Mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver. DNA flow cytometric analysis of eight cases.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver is a rare lesion seen predominantly in childhood, which is believed to be either a developmental anomaly or reactive process. Because of recent reports of specific translocations involving chromosome 19 in mesenchymal hamartomas and certain ultrastructural and histologic features suggesting a relationship between mesenchymal hamartoma and undifferentiated (embryonal) sarcoma of the liver, some have speculated that mesenchymal hamartoma may be a neoplastic lesion with uncertain malignant potential. METHODS: Because DNA aneuploidy can be useful as a marker for neoplasia, the authors decided to assess ploidy in paraffin embedded mesenchymal hamartomas using flow cytometry. The authors retrospectively examined mesenchymal hamartomas from eight children and evaluated the clinicopathologic features and the ploidy of the lesions. RESULTS: Boys and girls were equally affected, and the mean age at presentation was 11 months. Lesions involved predominantly the right lobe of the liver, with a range of greatest dimension of 7-25 cm, and a mean weight of 651 g (though weights for three of the largest lesions were not recorded). Flow cytometric analysis of nuclei extracted from paraffin embedded tissue revealed that six of the eight lesions were DNA diploid, whereas two were DNA aneuploid (with DNA indices of 1.13 and 1.25). All of the lesions had a low S phase fraction. CONCLUSIONS: The authors concluded that although most mesenchymal hamartomas are diploid, a subset of mesenchymal hamartomas is aneuploid. The finding of aneuploidy in mesenchymal hamartoma, in conjunction with the reported cytogenetic abnormalities, suggests that mesenchymal hamartoma may be a true neoplasm and not a developmental anomaly or reactive process.

Aneuploidy

Monoclonal antibody to P-selectin (PB1.3) protects against myocardial reperfusion injury in the dog.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine whether a monoclonal antibody directed at P-selectin (PB1.3) would diminish neutrophil accumulation and protect against decrease in coronary flow reserve and myocardial function after coronary occlusion-reperfusion. METHODS: Sixteen open chest anaesthetised dogs were randomly given PB1.3 (2 mg.kg-1) or buffer intravenously after 50 min of total left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. Ten minutes later, the artery was reperfused for 1 h. Coronary flow reserve was measured as peak reactive hyperaemic flow and as increase in coronary flow in response to acetylcholine and glyceryl trinitrate. Myocardial contractile fraction was measured by ultrasonic crystals. Neutrophil infiltration and oxidative burst in the reperfused area were also measured. RESULTS: Coronary flow reserve and myocardial contractile function were markedly impaired in the supply region following left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion-reperfusion in the buffer treated dogs. In contrast, both coronary flow reserve and contractile fraction were preserved in PB1.3 treated dogs despite coronary occlusion-reperfusion. Myeloperoxidase, an index of neutrophil infiltration, was increased in the reperfused region in buffer treated dogs, but not in the PB1.3 treated dogs. Myocardial histology confirmed the reduction in neutrophil accumulation in the reperfused regions in PB1.3 treated dogs. Flow cytometry of the regions supplied by the left anterior descending coronary artery showed a marked decrease in neutrophil oxidative burst in the reperfused region in these dogs. CONCLUSIONS: Antibody to P-selectin (PB1.3) protects against attenuation of coronary flow reserve and myocardial contractile function after coronary occlusion-reperfusion, and decreases neutrophil deposition and activation in the reperfused region.

Animals

Ki-67 expression in vulvar carcinoma.

The proliferative activity of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva was examined using a Ki-67 equivalent monoclonal antibody (MIB1), which gives a strong immunoreaction in paraffin-embedded tissue. Quantitation of Ki-67 immunostaining was accomplished by image analysis. Ki-67 immunostaining revealed two general patterns of reactivity in vulvar tumors: (a) a diffuse distribution of Ki-67 positive nuclei within the tumor mass and (b) a localized distribution of Ki-67 positive nuclei staining predominantly basilar components of tumor aggregates. The distribution of localized and diffuse patterns did not differ significantly between various clinicopathologic categories (age, histologic type and grade, FIGO stage, and lymph node status). However, the survival times for patients with a diffuse Ki-67 labelling pattern tended to be shorter than those for patients with a localized pattern. Survival curves based on the median positive nuclear area (PNA) calculated by image analysis did not differ significantly. Thus, the pattern of Ki-67 immunostaining, rather than the percentage of PNA, may have prognostic significance in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma.

Aged

Keratoacanthoma: a deficient squamous cell carcinoma? Study of bcl-2 expression.

Ten keratoacanthomas with both proliferative and regressive histologic features along with 10 well-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas were examined using immunohistochemistry for the expression of bcl-2, a protooncogene recently recognized to be involved in protecting cells from undergoing apoptosis. The squamous cell carcinomas had a modest but diffuse staining pattern, while the proliferative keratoacanthomas stained only at the basal cells and only rare cells stained positively in the regressive keratoacanthomas. The degree and pattern of staining suggest a loss of bcl-2 expression with tumor maturity in keratoacanthoma and a possible role in their ultimate involution.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell

A multilabeling technique for simultaneous demonstration and quantitation of Ki-67 and nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in paraffin-embedded tissue.

Although many investigators have demonstrated a relationship between argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) and Ki-67 expression in solid tumors, no previous studies have simultaneously assessed the relationship between AgNOR and Ki-67 expression in paraffin-embedded tissue. We describe a method for simultaneous demonstration and quantitation of Ki-67 and AgNORs in routinely processed tissue. The Ki-67 equivalent monoclonal antibody MIB1, which can detect proliferative activity in routinely processed tissue with microwave heating, was employed. Fresh human tonsil tissue was fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin for Ki-67/AgNOR dual staining. Image analysis was employed for quantitation of AgNOR staining in Ki-67-positive and Ki-67-negative nuclei. The double-staining procedure had no measurable effect on the individual parameters: Ki-67 labeling index, mean AgNOR number (NN), and NOR percentage nuclear area (NPNA). However, microwave processing for Ki-67 immunostaining significantly increased nuclear area (NA) and AgNOR area (AA). A significant difference was found between Ki-67-positive and Ki-67-negative cells for NN (p < 0.001), NA (p < 0.001), AA (p < 0.001), and NPNA (p < 0.001). These results suggest a direct relationship between AgNOR and Ki-67 in paraffin-embedded tissue.

Antibodies

Quality control considerations for Ki-67 detection and quantitation in paraffin-embedded tissue.

Proliferative activity has prognostic significance in many solid tumors. Immunohistochemical analysis of tumor proliferation may be accomplished with the Ki-67 monoclonal antibody which recognizes a nuclear antigen expressed throughout the cell cycle. This antibody, however, cannot be used with formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. Recently, a Ki-67 equivalent murine monoclonal antibody (MIB-a; AMAC, Inc., Westbrook, ME) was generated which can detect tumor proliferative activity in routinely processed tissue with microwave oven heating. Using quantiative image analysis, we assessed the effect of delay in fixation, total time of formalin fixation, and microwave heating time on the immunoreactivity of this antibody. The effect of time to fixation (0, 2, 4, 8, or 24 hours) on MIB-1 immunostaining was determined in various tumor tissues using image analysis. No significant difference in positive nuclear area was observed for tissues in which fixation was delayed for as long as 8 hours relative to controls. A 24-hour fixation delay resulted in a small decrease in positive nuclear area was observed for tissues in which fixation was delayed for as long as 8 hours relative to controls. A 24-hour fixation delay resulted in a small decrease in positive nuclear area relative to controls. The effect of fixation time (4, 24, or 48 hours) and microwave oven heating time on MIB-1 immunostaining was studied in tonsil tissue, and quantitated by image analysis. Good MIB-1 immunostaining was observed for all microwave oven heating times in tissue fixed for 4 hours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Ploidy results in prostatic carcinoma vary with sampling method and with cytometric technique.

To evaluate the effect of sampling method and cytometric method on DNA ploidy results, a comparison study was performed on 20 whole prostate glands removed at prostatectomy. Fresh sampling was by sampling fine-needle aspiration (FNA). Paraffin sampling was by microdissection and re-embedding of 3 to 13 (average 6) 5-mm foci of microscopically proven tumor. Analysis was by flow cytometry and by image cytometry (microscopically guided). In tumor negative cases, flow and image cytometry of the FNA was diploid in each case, and flow cytometry of paraffin-embedded tissue was diploid in 5/6 cases. In tumor positive cases, non-diploid tumor was detected by image cytometry of the FNA in 70%, by flow cytometry of the FNA in 29%, and by flow cytometry of paraffin-extracted nuclei in 21%. The most effective combination was sampling fine-needle aspiration and image analysis.

Adenocarcinoma

Fine needle aspiration of the breast for diagnosis of preinvasive neoplasia.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the breast is a well-tolerated procedure used to evaluate palpable breast masses, has a reported mean specificity of 99%, and a reported sensitivity of 70-99%. The false positive rate varies from 0-0.4% in most larger series, with a reported false negative rate ranging from 0.7-22%; however, higher false negative rates have been reported in tumors under 2 cm in diameter. The FNA technique uses a fine, 20 gauge or less, needle and is not associated with a significant risk of tumor growing out the needle tract. FNA cytology is not effectively used if a breast mass cannot be palpated or distinguished from fibrous tissue within the breast. The procedure can be applied to nonpalpable masses detected by mammography by employing stereotactic techniques. The cytologic samples obtained from FNA can be used to distinguish atypical ductal hyperplasia from in situ or invasive ductal carcinoma; however, cytologic criteria to effectively distinguish ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) from invasive adenocarcinoma are not definitive in many cases, and are dependent on variables related to the type of intraductal tumor, the size and character of the cell groups, and the presence of single or disaggregated tumor cells. Employing current cytologic criteria, lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) may be distinguished from invasive lobular carcinoma in some cases; however, the individual LCIS cells are not morphologically distinct from lobular carcinoma cells. Atypical lobular hyperplasia has cellular features essentially the same as those seen in LCIS. Needle biopsy (NB) employs larger needles of 14-16 gauge.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biopsy, Needle

Tissue section image analysis of breast neoplasms. Evidence of false aneuploidy.

Two methods have emerged for measuring the DNA content of paraffin-embedded tissue using image cytometry: (1) analysis of thin sections, and (2) analysis of nuclei extracted from thick sections. These methods were evaluated using 31 breast tumors for which paraffin-embedded material was available. Cases selected represented 11 diploid, 11 tetraploid, and 9 aneuploid tumors. Results generated using image cytometry methods were compared with those obtained using flow cytometry. For thin sections, the tissue correction feature of the CAS 200 Image Cytometer was used to estimate the DNA content of whole nuclei from measurements made on sectioned nuclei. DNA histograms were generated from tissue sections cut at the same microtome setting (5 microns) before and after software corrections of 4.5 microns, 5.0 microns, 5.5 microns, 6.0 microns. 6.5 microns, 7.0 microns, and 7.5 microns. A comparison of flow cytometry and thin-section image analysis in the absence of tissue correction showed 90% concordance for diploid, 27% concordance for tetraploid, and 77% concordance for aneuploid tumors. The ploidy estimated on thin sections by at least one of the correction values was discordant in 72% of diploid, 91% of tetraploid, and 78% of aneuploid tumors. For cell nuclei extracted from paraffin, excellent agreement was found between flow and image cytometry (r = 0.933). It was concluded that in most cases, cell nuclei extracted from paraffin are preferable to tissue sections for ploidy analysis of breast tumors using image cytometry.

Aneuploidy

Effect of fixation time and microwave oven heating time on retrieval of the Ki-67 antigen from paraffin-embedded tissue.

Microwave oven heating has been employed for retrieval of antigens from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue for immunohistochemical staining. Recently, a Ki-67 equivalent murine monoclonal antibody was generated which can detect tumor proliferative activity in routinely processed tissue with microwave oven heating. We assessed the effect of fixation time (4, 24, or 48 hr) and microwave oven heating time (7, 14, 21, 28, 35, or 49 min) on retrieval of the Ki-67 antigen from tonsil tissue. Ki-67 staining was quantitated by image analysis. Owing to the heterogeneity of Ki-67 staining within and between germinal centers, we employed a measurement technique that averages staining across the germinal centers of each section. Good Ki-67 immunostaining was observed for all microwave oven heating times in tissue fixed for 4 hr. In contrast, poor immunostaining was observed in tissue fixed for 48 hr unless a heating time of at least 14 min was used. Tonsil fixed for 24 or 48 hr showed a significant increase in percentage positive nuclear area after microwave times of 14 or 21 min. Prolonged heating time (up to 49 min) had no effect on the quality of Ki-67 staining in tissue fixed for 4 or 48 hr.

Formaldehyde

Comparison of two antibodies for evaluation of estrogen receptors in paraffin-embedded tumors.

Estrogen receptor (ER) content in breast cancer specimens is correlated with a prolonged disease free survival and increased likelihood of response to hormone therapy. Relatively few anti-ER antibodies are currently available for use in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. Recently, a new anti-ER monoclonal antibody (ERID5; AMAC, Westbrook, Maine) was generated which requires antigen retrieval by microwave oven heating for detection in routinely processed tissue. The specific aim of this study was to compare the ERID5 antibody with the commercially available rat monoclonal (ER-ICA; Abbott, Chicago, IL) which requires proteolytic enzyme digestion for detection in paraffin-embedded tissue. Sections from 20 cases of primary breast carcinoma previously assayed by dextran-coated charcoal (DCC) analysis were examined. Quantitation of ER antibody staining was performed without knowledge of the DCC values. Specimens containing > or = 20% specifically stained malignant cells were considered ER positive. The sensitivity and specificity of visual ER-ICA immunostaining were 57% and 83%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of visual ERID5 immunostaining were 93% and 50%, respectively. The predictive value of positive staining was 89% for the ER-ICA antibody and 81% for the ERID5 antibody. The predictive value of negative staining was 45% for the ER-ICA antibody and 75% for the ERID5 antibody. Previous studies have demonstrated a linear correlation between DCC values and the positive nuclear area (PNA) generated by image analysis for ER-ICA immunostaining. In the present study, a similar correlation between DCC value and ERID5 percentage PNA was observed (R = 0.670; P < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

A method for detecting variability arising from errors in sample processing of paraffin-embedded tissue for DNA content analysis.

We present a method for controlling variability that may arise from inconsistencies in sample preparation for DNA content analysis of paraffin-embedded tissue. Human tonsil tissue obtained from routine surgical specimens was embedded in paraffin according to standard protocols. Fifty-micrometer sections were cut from the block and analyzed each day for 20 days to establish control ranges. One tonsil tissue section was processed in parallel with each run of clinical specimens. In this context, a run was defined as the simultaneous processing of 50-microns tissue sections for extraction of cell nuclei (dewaxing and rehydrating). If the tonsil G0/G1 peak coefficient of variation (CV) exceeded 2 SDs of the established mean, and optimum instrument performance and staining were verified, all samples prepared with the tonsil control were reprocessed. Instrument performance and staining were assessed by using the appropriate external controls. By using this rejection rule (12s), the frequency of sample reprocessing in our laboratory was approximately 6%. When the run was repeated and the tonsil control CV was within acceptable range, the G0/G1 peak CV of the corresponding clinical specimens improved 25% of the time. Because most investigators are willing to accept higher CVs for paraffin-embedded tissue than for fresh tissue, it is desirable to have a control to detect decreased peak resolution, resulting from errors in sample processing.

Cell Nucleus